Top Free Resources to Search and Discover Physiotherapy Research

Introduction

As a professional physiotherapist, staying up-to-date with the latest research is crucial to delivering effective and evidence-based care to your patients. However, accessing high-quality research can be a challenge, particularly for those who may not have access to academic journals or specialized databases. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent free online resources available that can help you keep up with the latest research in the field of physiotherapy. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the top free online resources to search and discover physiotherapy research and provide tips on how to use PubMed search features effectively.

Search

If you are a student looking for articles to write an assignment or a professional physio looking for the latest evidence for case you have, here is a list of resources you can use to find research articles.

1. PEDro PEDro is a free database of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and clinical practice guidelines in physiotherapy. It offers access to over 58,000 records from 1975 to present, making it a valuable resource for finding the latest research. PEDro also offers a range of features to help you search for and evaluate the quality of research, including a PEDro scale that rates the quality of individual studies.
2. Cochrane Library The Cochrane Library is a collection of databases that contain high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making. It includes a database of systematic reviews and clinical trials, as well as other databases on specific topics. While not specific to physiotherapy, the Cochrane Library is a valuable resource for finding high-quality research in many areas of healthcare.
3. PubMed PubMed is a free database of biomedical literature, including articles, books, and conference proceedings. It includes a large number of physiotherapy-related articles and reviews, and offers a range of search filters to help you find the most relevant research. PubMed is a valuable resource for finding research in a range of healthcare areas, not just physiotherapy. Here are some tips for using PubMed effectively:
   • Use MeSH terms: PubMed uses a system of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to categorize articles. MeSH terms are standardized vocabulary terms that help you find articles related to specific topics. Using MeSH terms can help you refine your search and find more relevant articles.
   • Use Boolean operators: PubMed allows you to use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine search terms. This can help you narrow down your search and find more specific results.
   • Use filters: PubMed offers a range of filters that you can use to refine your search, such as publication date, article type, and language. Using filters can help you find the most relevant research and save time.

Discover

If you’re not looking for something specific, here are some resources that can help you discover the latest research articles in physiotherapy.

1. Physiokeys.com
   • Physiokeys.com (Hello), is a free platform to discover the latest research articles in physiotherapy, you can see random articles in the home page, or you can see the latest articles by journal based on discipline (e.g. neurology, musculoskeletal etc.) and even from only journals that are only open access. Also, you can subscribe to get the latest research in your inbox.
2. PEDro Browse PEDro, also offer a browsing feature to discover the latest research added to their database.
3. MyNCBI MyNCBI is a feature of PubMed that allows you to save search results and create alerts for new research in your field. This can help you stay up-to-date with the latest research without having to manually search for new articles.

Extra Tip

• Do not forget that many local and national libraries provide access to restricted access journals often for an affordable price or even free specially for students.

Conclusion

• To search for physiotherapy research articles, you can use resources such as PEDro and PubMed. These databases offer a wide range of articles and filters to help you find the most relevant research for your needs.
• If you’re looking to discover new research articles in physiotherapy, you may find physiokeys.com to be a useful resource. This website provides access to the latest research articles in physiotherapy, categorized by journal and discipline.